NM Gov. Susana Martinez in Washington, DC for education forum

SANTA FE - New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has traveled to the nation's capital to participate in an educational policy forum on student reading.

The governor's office said Martinez will join governors from Mississippi and Delaware at the forum hosted by the Washington Post on Tuesday about state efforts to improve student reading by the third grade. Education superintendents from several states also are to participate.

The Democratic-controlled Legislature had rejected proposals by the Republican governor to require school districts to hold back third-graders who can't read proficiently, rather than promoting them to the next class.

The governor's office said Monday that Martinez will talk about her proposal to end the practice known as "social promotion" and will discuss state efforts to expand early childhood education programs and other reading initiatives.